Curated OER
Climate Systems - Which Location Is Best For Me?
Students study the difference between weather and climate. In this climate systems lesson students search the Internet for the parts of the Earth's system, gather climate data and complete a challenge scenario.
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Getting the Oil Out
Students discover ways of obtaining oil by participating in an experiment. In this natural resource instructional activity, students identify diagrams of oil derricks and pumps in order to visualize how oil is retrieved from the...
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The Moon
Students explore the relationship between the earth, sun, and moon in our solar system. They create a moonrise/moonset chart, perform a dance that models the moon phases, and create a Styrofoam model of the moon's surface.
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What is Climate?
Middle schoolers explore the differences between climate and weather. In this introductory lesson of a climate unit, students discuss the vocabulary and concepts associated with weather and climate. They build their information base...
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Mexico: One Land, Many Cultures
Students research and study the country of Mexico and complete a project about it. In this Mexico lesson plan, students research Mexico's geography, traditions, art, songs, stories, and legends that are native to Mexico.
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How Wet Did It Get?
Students measure the rainfall/snowfall on the playground on a rainy/snowy day with a rain/snow gauge. They draw a bar graph representing the amount of water that fell and observe a satellite image of the clouds and local weather system...
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The Chemistry of Black Pottery
Sixth graders create pottery out of black clay using traditional methods. They demonstrate appropriate Native American cultural traditions related to the making of black pottery, including prayers to Mother Earth and Clay Woman.
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Biomes: Action for a Healthy Planet
Students become environmentalists. They develop solutions to modern environmental problems.
National First Ladies' Library
One Small Step
Young scholars explore the steps taken to fulfill President Kennedy's promise to land a man on the moon.They examine the costs and difficulties of fulfilling that promise and the historical events that motivated the nation to do so.
Pulitzer Center
Extractive Industries
Here is a chance for environmental studies classes to take a critical look at crises occurring around the globe by reading articles and viewing video clips. The human activities under scrutiny are the extraction of oil, logging, and...
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Water Use and Conservation
Young scholars discuss the different types of water found on Earth. They discover why not all water is used for drinking and calculate how much water they use. They create their own water conservation plan.
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Cloud Databases
Students complete a unit on clouds and a report about one type of cloud. They collect data through observation about different types of cloud cover and then create a spreadsheet to reflect their observations over a 2 week period.
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"pH and the Environment"
Eighth graders experiment and study about acids and bases by becoming involved in direct hands-on learning experiences and then relate those experiences to their own lives. They experience the Ohio River and what can be done to help...
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How to Celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the Mogol Empire
Learners research information on the Mongolian Empire from various readings and online videos of primary sources and create a poster for oral presentation. Students connect history with the current day, while incorporating geographical,...
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The Conficts of the Founders
Students discuss the often conflicting viewpoints of the framers of the Constitution. One Framer in particular, George Mason, strongly objected to the creation of the Constitution. His objections are explored and the Constitutional...
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Dissolved Oxygen and Photosynthesis: 1
Learners are taught that plants produce oxygen underwater, and they design an experiment that test this question. They discuss whether plants give off oxygen, and how to measure this. Students measure the increase in dissolved oxygen...
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Solar Effects on Global Warming
Students explore the greenhouse effect and how it affects our climate. For this global warming lesson students draw the sun and label features and describe the effects of the sun's energy on the world.
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Anthropogenic Biomes
If you teach a man to fish, he will never go hungry—or he will overfish and permanently damage the ecosystem? Address the traditional biomes as well as the human-included ecosystems and contrasts the biotic and abiotic factors in each....
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Water Pressure - Disparity of Resources
Young scholars examine the disparity of resources between developing and industrialized nations, and research the problem of water availability as world populations increase and natural resources are stressed.
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Conserving Energy Resources
Seventh graders research on energy conversion. After they have researched several types of energy resources, teams of two to four create posters which depict how these resources can be conserved.
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Increase the Peace At Recess
Students discuss activities that could further keep the peace at recess. Using vocabulary, they analyze recess from a different point of view. They discover how working together can make their school a safer and fun place. They...
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Splish Splash: Daily Use of Water
Students assess their daily use of water and write stories about how water is used in their lives and communities. Students read about water usage in Ghana and Kenya and compare and contrast water usage and resources between the countries.
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Our Water Resources
Learners build a model aquifer to study groundwater zones and water table formation. Students use the models to measure the movement of polluted groundwater.